# The book of Job

> Job is a long poem about suffering. A good man loses his children, wealth, and health. His friends insist he must have sinned. Job protests and demands an answer, and God finally speaks from the whirlwind.

Source: https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/about
Section: Wisdom and poetry · 42 chapters

## Who wrote Job?

The author is unknown. The poem is set in the time of the patriarchs, but scholars date its writing anywhere from Solomon’s time to after the exile.

## When was it written?

Setting perhaps 2000–1800 BC. Writing date uncertain.

## Main themes

- **Suffering is not always punishment.** The friends’ neat answer is wrong, and God says so.
- **Honest lament is allowed.** Job’s raw complaints are spoken to God, and God answers him.
- **God’s wisdom is beyond ours.** God does not explain the reason. He shows Job who he is.

## Outline

- Chapters 1–2: [Job’s losses](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/1)
- Chapters 3–31: [Job and his three friends argue](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/3)
- Chapters 32–37: [Elihu speaks](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/32)
- Chapters 38–41: [God answers from the whirlwind](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/38)
- Chapter 42: [Job’s reply and restoration](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/42)

## Key verses

Quoted from the Lumin Translation.

> He said, “Naked I came out of my mother’s womb, and naked I will go back there. Yahweh has given, and Yahweh has taken; let Yahweh’s name be blessed.”
> — [Job 1:21](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/1#21)

> But I know that my Redeemer lives, and in the end he will stand up on the dust.
> — [Job 19:25](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/19#25)

> Where were you when I founded the earth? Tell it to me, if you have insight.
> — [Job 38:4](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/38#4)

> I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye has seen you.
> — [Job 42:5](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/42#5)

## Where to start

Read chapters 1–2 for the story, then jump to God’s speech in chapter 38. [Read Job 1](https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/1.md)

Read the whole book: https://www.lumin.faith/read/job/1.md
Ask about it: https://www.lumin.faith/ask.md